Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-24
A CHAT WITH zOLA.
The French Realist ProcluIns
Himself q Socialist.
IN. Y. Mail and Express.j


The author Of "L'Assommoir" l. Z
most cordial hos; and q most agreeable
acquaintance. ! confess that before
meeting Emile zola, l pictured him a =
divinity surrounded by admirers, who,
from time to time, were allowed to kiss
his sugust slipf ers. But altt ough The
novelist loves his friends, society in gem
cral he deserts. He Is literally draf9Sd
% scirce, and when there he hides
h;mself In corner near the door, speak.
ing only to these who come to Eim, and
watching his opportunity to glide out
unpercetved. His pied-a terre, in the
Rue Bal.u, formerly Rue de Boul-
ogne, consists Of suits of rooms mn
several flights of stairs. These rosns
are filed with curious drawings, bibe-
lots antique furniture, ell in confusion,
Sd that each room has the appearance OF
curiosity shop. On the wall of the
study is Zola's portrait by the inn res
zionist Manet. The novelist has q large
head. nose slightly re.rousse, strong
mouth, fine chin, dreamy. sad, black
eyes. always half concealed by an eye.
glass, and very high forehead. His
shoulders are almost on level with his
ears. His arms are close to lis body,
and his coat is always tight-but.
toned, as if he feared it would
escape from him. Emile Z,la,
when induced to receive o s.raug.
er, gives most friendly welcome and .
grasp of the hand that can hardly be
initiated, The discussions osussd by tlS
announcement that ZIla bad prepared
"Renee" for the Vaudeville theater
without the aid cf collaborateur, had
awakened my curiosity. and I decid, !
would say. Although Z,la would give
very little information about "nenee, !"
ne talked vary willingly of himself. Of his
new novel, LA Terre, and Of bis views
on Socialism.
81 have no doctrine; do not care for
doctrines. In my heart, however, ain
a Socialist, for helieve that the next
century wi hardly have begun, nay.
that this century will not finish, before
society shall have been overturned. A
great social movement is in preparation;
let as hope that all will be accomplished
without violence; but-you ask ME from
whence this revolution will come! Not
from France, think; at le,st it will not
originate in France. Germany possesses
the most resolute Socialists in Europe,
and"
"What of Russia!,
''NihilisM belongs only to Russia. but
the Germans will make tremendous
effort 10 free themselves from their yoke,
and Socialism is contagious"
''Is La Terre' to be Socialistic
work.
''No, but Socialism has place in if;a
writer composes unconsciously; he does
not sit down to his desk and cay, Nov.
am going to make something realistic,
social.stic, but he does what be can
unconsciously follows his temperament.
No, in La Terre' examine the peasant
in four lights: Customs, religion, poll
tics and economy. That of customs.
habits is the most difficult, for when
the peasant thinks himself observed ho
hides. do not speak Of violence, but
of slow crime, for the peasant is brutal.
ferocious. There are some peasants who
believe in religion, others who do not:
those who believe have for the fuunda-
tion OF their doctrine fear of eternal
punishment. The possibility of torture
inspires them with faith, but the good
iSSS ~ NoA 10 hS'cA eohCA AutO ocCOuuGs
In politics the peasantis always v with
the strongest party; the great questions
of the day have no llace in his life.
The peasant knows but one govern
ment. that which exists; but one
respect, that for the ndostI tIpowtrfu A
to economy, see q whole country inn
poverished. picture it; see the Effects
of crisis,I relate them; see ruin All
about me, tell the unvarnished truth.
l have great. very great sympatby with
the working classes. commenced INV
own struggle with life at . very earlv
age, Iqvrote while was working for 4
pittapce in great publis hirg house Of
this city, wrote vt at = time when II /
wanted meat was Obliged "a
kill sparrows out of my RArret win.
dows; aud what insults I Irecsivod! v hat
injuries | suHeredl Now am compare.
lively tranquil, but have come ihrouek
great 'rihulation. Ia few days I shall
go to my country home at Medap. for /
remain in Paris only from tbe bepinptu1
Of January to the end Of March, / ~.
fer Medan to Paris. becauso thero 4 ~
railway station and l have no neirhbor1